Santa Justa Lift Tours

The hilly city of Lisbon might be home to the most beautiful elevator on the planet. The Santa Justa Lift was built in 1902 by Portugal-born French engineer Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard (a student of Gustave Eiffel) as a way to connect Downtown Lisbon with hilltop Bairro Alto. The neo-Gothic wrought-iron lift — once powered by steam — is the only remaining vertical street lift in the city (the others are funiculars) and one of Lisbon’s most beloved landmarks.

Visitors can ride the 147-foot (45-meter) lift to the top of the structure for sweeping views of the city from a miradouro at the very top. From there, it’s possible to continue on foot to Largo do Carmo in Bairro Alto.

Practical Info

Access to the lift is included with a Lisboa Card, but you’ll have to pay extra for access to the miradouro on top.